Senator Mary L. Landrieu (D-Louisiana) again commented that she is developing a bill and starting hearings beginning next week that will look at new models “that might work” that could affect changes in the US dependency upon the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Landrieu made those and other comments in a telephone press conference Friday morning after last week’s Codel of the Netherlands.A delegation of interested individuals visited the Netherlands to learn how to better understand the way that the European country lives with and manages water that is so important to that nation’s survival.
While in the Netherlands, Senator Landrieu mentioned at a Thursday press conference that she was considering legislation that could reform the US Army Corps.In her news conference today, Landrieu said she is looking at a new model that has a chance to work, and said that the “Corps is a levee building organization” but that a more holistic approach might be needed to take in consideration many of the methodologies and practices utilized by the Netherlands which prides itself with “living with water” although it is also largely under sea level.
Landrieu said that the first committee would be in the Senate “Public Works” committee.
Landrieu said that the American way of dealing with water is “old”, and that it “doesn’t work”.
She said the Dutch method is “sustainable” with “much higher standards”.
Landrieu also discussed that part of the funding to change and improve the New Orleans area’s water system is already in place, especially after Katrina.She said approximately 14-billion dollars worth of projects are being deployed and that due to recent legislation she co-authored, Congress has allowed Louisiana to receive a revenue stream from oil and gas royalties from the Outer-ContinentalCoast which could amount to approximately 500 million dollars per year to help with necessary projects.
Senator Landrieu emphasized the importance of the Louisiana Delta and New Orleans upon the totality of America because of the geo-position of the Mississippi River, the Gulf and the necessary support system to commerce.
The Louisiana Senator also said that “we are not leaving” the coast despite Katrina and Rita and after cries after the hurricane that the US should abandon New Orleans.She said that Louisiana is going to stay, build bigger and stronger cities.
Landrieu compared the size of the Netherlands to that of the United States but compared that country’s relative overall financial commitment “living with water” in protecting land, building land masses out of the sea, protecting the coast, improving the living conditions of the residents and managing the overall water flow.
In emphasizing the contrast, Landrieu said, They’re “reclaiming sea, we retreating from it”.
The Louisiana Senator said that the Army Corps “military model” is out of date and described the system as “not reliable” and “wasteful”.
While she did not identify any specific organization that would replace the Army Corps of Engineers, she did suggest that her mind was open to new ideas during the hearings.
Landrieu indicated that other parts of the nation such as Florida and California—states with large coastlands might be sympathetic to legislation and reformation of the current system.
Below is a series of press releases from Senator Mary Landrieu’s Press Office covering the “Codel”:
DAY FOUR: Landrieu, Congressional Delegation Conclude Study of Dutch Water Management
KAMPEN -- United States Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., today concluded her Congressional Delegation trip to the Netherlands where she studied the Dutch integrated water management system with federal government officials, including Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa P. Jackson and representatives from the Army Corps of Engineers. The Dutch's ability to manage water is world-renowned, and the Netherlands shares many of Louisiana's challenges with protecting populations and economic infrastructure below sea level.
"The people of Louisiana need a new model, and I believe we can incorporate some of the state-of-the-art technologies the Dutch have developed to protect their communities," Sen. Landrieu said. "I am working to ensure we continue sharing ideas and best practices.
"I am also pushing the federal government to recognize the importance of South Louisiana and America's only EnergyCoast to the nation. We must commit our country to protecting our communities and way of life.
"The friendship we have with the Netherlands, forged by water, will be an important part of the equation as we continue to rebuild and recover. I want to thank the Netherlands and the Royal Netherlands Embassy for helping our Louisiana delegation understand what it takes to be truly safe."
Site visits and briefings Tuesday through Friday included water management experts and officials in Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam, Delft and Kampen. The delegation focused on the nuts and bolts of internal water management, both in urban and rural environments. Friday's agenda included a tour and briefing about land that the Netherlands reclaimed from the water, including the Zuyder Zee Project, and a visit to Kampen, a medieval city that has incorporated modern flood protection.
Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Netherlands was one of the first nations to extend support to Louisiana and the GulfCoast, including civil engineers and mobile pumps to remove floodwaters in the New Orleans region. The relationship between the Netherlands and Louisiana has continued to grow stronger. In early 2006, Sen. Landrieu and the Royal Netherlands Embassy led an initial CODEL to the Netherlands. Since 2006, Louisiana has made progress in protecting coastal communities, including 100-year flood protection for the New Orleans region to be completed by 2011. This trip will help the state assess remaining challenges. Sen. Landrieu will also explore policies, which include innovative Dutch technologies and practices that can reduce the persistent delays and cost overruns of Corps projects.
Following their historic food of 1953, Dutch officials and engineers developed a comprehensive flood control system to protect the country and emerged as international leaders in the field of integrated water management. While Louisiana and the Netherlands share similar characteristics, Holland has built a10,000-year flood protection system.
Also joining this CODEL: Jackie Clarkson, President of the New Orleans City Council; Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority East Regional Director Bob Turner; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Claudia Tornblom, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Management and Budget), and Zoltan Montvai, Civil Works Deputy with the Mississippi Valley Division; Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Staff Director/Chief Counsel Bettina Poirier; New Orleans Director of Disaster Mitigation Dr. Earthea Nance; American Planning Association Executive Director/CEO Paul Farmer; American Society of Engineers President Wayne Klotz; Levees.Org Executive Director Sandy Rosenthal; Center for Planning and Excellence, Camille Manning-Broome; Louisiana Speaks, Lee Einsweiler; and LSU Hurricane Center Interim Director Joseph Suhayda.
DAY THREE: Landrieu, Jackson Visit Water Management Experts in Rotterdam, Delft
United States Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator (EPA) Lisa P. Jackson today continued their Congressional Delegation trip to the Netherlands with visits to Rotterdam and Delft.
The morning discussions focused on the challenges facing the city of Rotterdam, which as a major port city shares many characteristics with New Orleans. Rotterdam has the largest port in Europe, and Louisiana hosts the largest port system in the United States.
"The city of Rotterdam has learned to live with water, and we need to as well," Sen. Landrieu said. "We need to manage and integrate the water instead of only trying to get rid of it. The Domenici-Landrieu bill established an independent revenue stream to rebuild our coast. We need to use this funding to establish a protection system that more closely models the Dutch's world-class system."
The Vice Mayor of Rotterdam Lucas Bolsius said his city is facing problems such as rising sea level and is continually reevaluating its protection.
"We have a history of water management for hundreds of years, but we have to integrate," he said. "We have to find new solutions."
Vice Mayor Bolsius said Rotterdam, which is surrounded by water on four sides, and New Orleans are cities that have to balance environmental concerns with their economic importance as major port cities. The city is incorporating planning elements, such as green roofs, which mitigate against heavy rainfall and add to the aesthetic value of the city. They also are incorporating housing, shops and park space into their levee protection system.
Rotterdam planning experts said that the Dutch have a lot to learn from the United States as well, including mitigation efforts and evacuation plans.
Members of the Louisiana delegation discussed America's infrastructure challenges. There are 100,000 miles of levees in the United States, and 85 percent of them were privately built with no plans for their maintenance, said Wayne Klotz, president of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Robert Turner, regional director of Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority, added that the New Orleans region has been focusing on 100-year flood protection, but needs to move toward a more secure system as the Dutch have. "We just cannot stop there," he said.
In the afternoon, the delegation traveled to Delft for a briefing at Deltares, an independent institute for delta technology that provides expertise to governments and the private sector on living in deltas, coastal areas and river basins.
The delegation ended the day at DelftUniversity where Sen. Landrieu and New Orleans urban planner Greg Rigamer explained the devastation of Hurricane Katrina to Dutch
DAY TWO: Landrieu, Jackson Continue Study of Dutch Water Management System at The Hague and Parliament
United States Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa P. Jackson today continued their study of the Dutch integrated water management system at The Hague and the Dutch Parliament.
Today's discussions at The Hague included briefings on national water management policy and practices, adapting to the river and building with nature. As one of Europe's "drains," the Netherlands shares many of Louisiana's challenges with water. "The Dutch are teaching us that we do not have to retreat from the water," Sen. Landrieu said. "They are taking land back from the water. They are on the offensive, not the defensive.
"It is clear that we need the same national commitment to our coastal communities' protection that is ingrained in the culture of the Netherlands. I am working to get Congress to understand the commitment we need."
The Dutch continue to commit billions of their country's resources to water management. Robert Turner, Regional Director of the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority, said that by contrast, his levee board spends $25 to $28 million on protecting the 220 miles of levees in the New Orleans region east of the Mississippi River.
Louise Fresco, a professor at WageningenUniversity, explained that the second Delta Commission, of which she is a member, is part of the Netherlands' national strategy to protect the country. As the nation reevaluates its protection system, the Netherlands is looking toward "dikes of the future," where multi-functional dikes can support housing, industry and recreation.
"Can we actually save the Netherlands?" Professor Fresco asked the group. "Our answer is yes; we can continue to live safely." "The Netherlands is fighting to protect its entire country," Sen. Landrieu said. "I am fighting to protect our entire state and coast from Cameron to Plaquemines. As America's EnergyCoast, we serve the energy needs of the nation. Our energy infrastructure and unique culture deserve the attention of the rest of the country."
Following the visit at The Hague, the delegation met with members of the Dutch Parliament on relevant committees, such as Mr. Rikus Jager, Chairman of the Permanent Committee of Transport, Public Works and Water Management of the second Chamber of Parliament. The Dutch are working toward upgrading their system to protect from the 30,000-year flood.
The current system protects from the 10,000-year flood. "This is a better war to fight than all the other wars in the world," said Chairman Jager said. "This is a conflict we can succeed in, but we've got to work together. If Katrina would have surprised us as it surprised you, we may have lost 11 million people and two thirds of our country."
Sen. Landrieu and members of Parliament discussed establishing a permanent dialogue with the Dutch so that research and best practices can continue to be shared.
"We need to exchange knowledge and experiences," said Vice Minister of Transport, Public Works and Water Management Tineke Huizinga. "My visit to New Orleans, your visit here and the continuation of our relationship with the U.S. is an important factor in this exchange."
New Orleans City Council President Jackie Clarkson spoke of the commitment of the people of New Orleans to rebuilding stronger and better than before the storms.
"The spirit of the people of New Orleans is not under water," she said.
Following the discussions with members of Parliament, the delegation toured Dutch landscapes that have various water management problems, including subsidence. The tour also showed examples of coastal protection that include elements of housing, recreation, infrastructure, industrial buildings and ecology.
*At the Dutch Parliament, from left to right: Sen. Landrieu; Mr. Rikus Jager, Chairman of the Permanent Committee of Transport, Public Works and Water Management of the second Chamber of Parliament; Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson: http://landrieu.senate.gov/media/09.05.27_Netherlands3.jpg
DAY ONE: Landrieu, Jackson Begin Trip to Study Dutch Water Management System
United States Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa P. Jackson today began a Congressional Delegation to the Netherlands to study the Dutch integrated water management system. Louisiana and administration officials, including the Army Corps of Engineers, are studying the world-class water management and flood protection system in the Netherlands, a country which shares many of Louisiana’s challenges in protecting populations and economic infrastructure below sea level.
“The Netherlands and Louisiana have a strong friendship forged by water,” Sen. Landrieu said. “We are building on that relationship this week, and learning how our partnership can help our state protect and strengthen our coastal communities. We need to ensure the Army Corps of Engineers can build projects more efficiently in our region and local governments have a more significant role in creating the framework for our local projects. We will continue working this week to find ways to help Louisiana overcome our remaining challenges to living effectively with water.”
“We’ve seen first-hand today how the Dutch work to balance water management with the effects of urbanization,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “In many ways, they have crossed bridges we in the U.S. have yet to cross while also confronting some of our same challenges. I look forward to learning more about their approach to water management."
The delegation is focusing on the nuts and bolts of internal water management, both in urban and rural environments. Tuesday’s study included an introduction to the history and development of the City of Amsterdam, a boat trip on the AmstelRiver, a briefing on water management and risks involved and a discussion of climate changes’ effects on the inner city.
“We have to learn more about how to manage water,” said New Orleans City Council President Jackie Clarkson. “We have to live with water, and we tend to run from it. No one does it better than the Dutch, and I also want to thank them for being there so soon after Katrina.”
The delegation also visited IJurg, a new area created for mixed-use development that was built to withstand the effects of climate change, such as the rising sea level. Amsterdam city officials discussed the political challenges with developing the area, which had previously been entirely water.
“It is good to see such interest in construction, design and development in areas next to waterways and below the level of the sea,” said H.J. Bosworth, Levees.Org’s director of research. “It will hopefully be useful to our state and federal representatives to learn how such development can be done safely.”
Site visits and briefings Wednesday through Friday include The Hague, Rotterdam, Delft and Kampen.
The Netherlands was one of the first nations to extend support to Louisiana and the GulfCoast, including civil engineers and mobile pumps to remove floodwaters in the New Orleans region. The relationship between the Netherlands and Louisiana has continued to grow stronger.
“The Dutch try to balance the water with the land, surface water and ground water,” said New Orleans architect David Waggonner. “They operate the land and water together.”
In early 2006, Sen. Landrieu and the Royal Netherlands Embassy led and initial CODEL to the Netherlands. Since 2006, Louisiana has made progress in protecting coastal communities, including 100-year flood protection for the New Orleans region to be completed by 2011. This trip will help the state assess remaining challenges. Sen. Landrieu will also explore policies, which may include innovative Dutch technologies and practices that can reduce the persistent delays and cost overruns of Corps projects.
Following their historic food of 1953, Dutch officials and engineers developed a comprehensive flood control system to protect the country and emerged as international leaders in the field of integrated water management. While Louisiana and the Netherlands share similar characteristics, Holland has successfully built a 10,000-year flood protection system.
Also joining this CODEL: Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority East Regional Director Bob Turner; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Claudio Tornblom, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Management and Budget) and Zoltan Montvai, Civil Works Deputy with the Mississippi Valley Division; Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Staff Director/Chief Counsel Bettina Poirier; New Orleans Director of Disaster Mitigation Dr. Earthea Nance; American Planning Association Executive Director/CEO Paul Farmer; American Society of Engineers President Wayne Klotz; Levees.Org Executive Director Sandy Rosenthal; Center for Planning and Excellence, Camille Manning-Broome; Louisiana Speaks, Lee Einsweiler; and LSU Hurricane Center Interim Director Joseph Suhayda.
How does the New Orleans "100-year storm surge height" compare to the Dutch "10,000-year storm surge height??"
The New York Times mentioned that the "rainfall intensity" for New Orleans is TEN TIMES that for Netherlands.
Was curious how each locations "design storms" compare as well.
Written by HeidiHoe
on 6/5/2009
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